Timer utilizing momentary switch operable from segmented timer shaft

ABSTRACT

The &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;push or pull&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of a segmented shaft means which carries a cam means for actuating switches responsive to cams, actuates an actuator means which in turn actuates a contact blade to open and close electrical contacts. The shaft segments are coupled together through spring washer means. One segment carries the cam means, while the other segment axially moves to actuate the actuator means.

I United States Patent 1 3,582,582

[72] Inventors Kurt Pauker; [56] References Cited Joseph E. WISH, both OI Indianapolis, Idaho pp No 813.620 IIIIICI' et a1. ZOO/38B] ook 200/38B1X [22] Filed Apr. 4,1969

3,330,918 7/1967 Linn 200/38 [45] Paemed 3 371 170 2/1968 Thomas et a1 200/38B [73] Assignee P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc.

Indianapolis, Idaho Primary Examiner-J. R. Scott Attorneys-Richard H. Childress, Robert F. Meyer and Henry W. Cummings [54] TIMER UTILIZING MOMENTARY SWITCH OPERABLE FROM SEGMENTED TIMER SI-IAFI 6 5 Drawmg ABSTRACT: The push or pull of a segmented shaft means [52] US. Cl 200/38, which carries a cam means for actuating switches responsive 200/153 to cams, actuates an actuator means which in turn actuates a [51] Int. Cl HOIh 7/08, contact blade to open and close electrical contacts. The shaft HOlh 43/00 segments are coupled together through spring washer means. [50] Field of Search 200/4, 156, One segment carries the cam means, while the other segment axially moves to actuate the actuator means.

This invention relates to timers and more particularly to timers which are used in domestic clothes drying machines.

In domestic clothes dryers, a door switch is ordinarily provided in order to interrupt the rotation of the drive motor and tumbling drum-whenever the door of the dryer is open. This is done in order to provide operator safety in the machine. In dryers using a timer motor to control the length of the dryer operations, the timer motor also is usually deenergized during this period.

In some machines, the control system is so arranged that the dryer immediately goes back into operation as soon as the door is closed. In other machines, there is provided a manual switch, separate from the means to set the various washing and drying cycles, whichmust be operatedafter the door is closed in order to start the machine up again. The use of a manual start switch separate from the means to set the various washing and drying cycles, however, increases the amount of circuitry that is needed to operate the dryer and detracts from the systems compactness. In addition, the separate pushbutton switch, of necessity, calls for an extra switch;

The present invention is concerned with a timer, and more particularly a timer for a domestic clothes drying machine, and has as one of its objects the provision of a timer which includes means to start the operation-of the dryer through the actuation of the shaft means which carries the cams of the timer.

Another object of theinvention is to providea timer having means to make and break electrical contacts through a push or pull of the shaft means which carries the cam programmingmeans of the timer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timer having means coupled to the cam carrying shaft means of the timer to actuatea contact blade for the making and'breaking of electrical contacts.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a timer wherein the same carryingshaft means is segmented-into two segments, one of the segments carrying the cams of thetimer, the other segment being coupled to the contact blade through an actuator means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a timer having a shaft means segmented into two sections with means coupling the two sections together in desired'angular relationship, the coupling means further providinga coupling means between a contact blade actuator. means-and'the shaft means.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a.timer having a segmented shaft means wherein the means coupling the segments includes a washer means and a spring biasing'means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a timer having a segmented shaft means wherein one of the segments is spring biased against the other segment, or away from it.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a timer having a contact blade responsive-to a shaft means of the timer wherein the contact blade. is a snap acting blade'through slots lanced along-the sides ofthe blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timer having an actuator means coupling a timer shaft means to the contact blade, the actuator means including a rocker means disposed between the shaft means and the blade.

These and other objects-and the nature thereof will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereinlike reference numbers describe elements of a similar function.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the timer with a portion thereof being removed for showing various elements of the timer;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along'line 2-2 of FIG. 1';

FIG. 3 isa cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS is an exploded view of the shaft means of the timer showing the relationship of the shaft means to the contact blade.

Generally speaking, the objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a timer including at least one switch means responsive to at least one cam means carried by a segmented cam carrying shaft means, a contact blade fixedly held at one end'and including at least one electrical contact at the free end thereof, blade actuator means responsive to axial movement of the shaft means, the actuator means coupled to the contact blade substantially between the fixed and free ends of the blade, axial movement of the shaft means engaging the electrical contact with a second electrical contact.

Referring nowto the drawings, there is shown a timer 10 having a housing 12 formed from an electrically insulative cup-shaped portion I4, the cup-shaped portion being closed through cover member I6. There is shown extending through the cover 16 and'into the cup-shaped portion 14 a cam carrying shaft means 18. A plurality of cam means 20 is carried by shaft means 18 such that rotation of the shaft means causes rotation of the cam means 20. Switch means I9 are responsive to cam means 20. Switch means 19 includes movable contact-v blades 22 which are responsive to cam. means 20 such that.

contact 24 of the movable contact blade 22 can make and break with stationary contact 26, which is also included as part of switch means 19. Shaft means 18 is rotatably driventhrough motor means 28, the motor means being coupled to the shaft means through pinion 30 and drive gear 32. Motor means 28 may be of the synchronous motor type.

Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that shaft means 18 includes first and second segments 34 and 36 coupled together through coupling means 38. Coupling means 38 includes a washer means 40 having a web means 42 which is adapted to slidably engage diametrically opposed slots 44 of the segment 34. Segment 36 is slidably coupled to segment 34 such that the segment 36 can be actuated to give a push or pull movement to the segment. Flat 36' islocated with respect to web means 42 such that a zero setting of the cam means 20'can be readily set. Segment 34 carries the plurality of cams 20. Segment 36 and 34 are spring biased against or away from cachother through spring means 46. Spring means 46 includes a coil spring 48 which is adapted to fit over spacer 50, the spacer 50 being fitted over the shaft segment 34 against stopwasher 52. The thickness of spacer 50 is such that upon compression of coil spring 48, washer 40 will bottom against spacer 50 rather than against the spring 48. Spacer 54 and C- clamp 56 fit over segment 34 with the C-clamp 56 being fitted into groove'57. It is noted with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 that the coil spring'48 is disposed on opposite sides of the washer 40. In the case of FIG. 2, the spring 48 will be disposed between washer 40and cover 16, with the spacer 54 serving as a spacer in the manner of spacer 50. As will be described hereinafter, such location of the coil spring 48 determines the operation of the shaft means 18 to affect the make and break of electrical contacts 60 and 62 by a push or pull of the shaft means.

There is a switch contact blade 58 carrying an electrical contact 60; the electrical contact being adapted to engage electrical contact 62 of stationary contact 64. As is more particularly shown in FIG. 5, contact blade 58 is of the snap acting type having elongated slots 66 and 68 formed along the sides of the blade. Also included as part of the contact blade are depressions 70 and 72 formed between the slots and the edge of the blade so as to facilitate the snap acting characteristics. The blade is fixedly held at the end opposite the end carrying the contact 60 by a support means 74. There is an actuator means 76 coupling the contact blade 58 to the shaft means 18 through washer 40. Actuator means 76 includes a rocker means 78 pivotally carried by cover plate l6through hinge 80. Rocker means 78 includes gripping means 82,

gripping means 82 including jaws 84 and 86 which slidablyv couple the rocker means to the washer 40 and the contact blade 58 respectively.

The operation of the'timer is as follows: the operator of the appliance, for example a dryer, sets the desired programv through shaft means 18 through a suitable knob (not shown). If the running of the appliance is stopped for some reason, for

example opening the door to the dryer, then the operator again has to start the timer after the door has been closed. Such operation is started by completing the circuit between contacts 60 and 62. Referring to FIG. 2, this is done by pulling shaft means 18 such that actuator means 76 causes movement of contact blade 58 to close the contact, actuator means 76 being actuated through washer 40. The closing of contact 60 and 62 energizes motor 28 to again continue the operation of the timer. Upon release of the shaft means 18 by the operator, spring means 46 returns the shaft means 18 to its original position and opens contact 60 and 62. In FIG. 4, the "pull-push" action is reversed. That is, contact 60 and 62 are closed by pushing shaft means 18. In this embodiment stationary contact 64' with contact 62 would be beneath contact 60.

As can be seen, therefore, the location of the spring 48 per mits the following operational possibilities;

I. With spring 48 between cover plate 16 and washer 40, and switch blade contact 60 in the normally open position with respect to contact 62, shaft means 18 is pulled to close the contacts.

2. With spring 48 between washer 40 and washer 52, and switch blade contact 60 normally closed with respect to contact 62, shaft means 18 is pushed to open contacts.

3. With spring 48 between washer 40 and washer 52, and switch blade contact 60' normally open with respect to contact 62, shaft means 18 is pushed to close the contacts.

4. With spring 48 between washer 40 and cover plate 16, and switch blade contact 60' normally closed with respect to contact 62', shaft means 18 is pulled to open the contacts.

FIG. 4 also shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the contacts 60 and 62 can be closed in accordance with the movement of blade 58 with the opening and closing of the contacts being controlled electrically rather than the manual operation of the shaft means 18. As shown, actuator means 76 includes a lever means 88 extending from the actuator means through aperture 90 of cup'shaped member 14. The lever means 88 could be connected to a suitable actuator means such as a solenoid (not shown). In this embodiment, spring biasing means 46 need not be used.

Thus there is described a timer having a separate circuit means from the primary cam programming means, the circuit means being actuated in accordance with the push or pull movement of the shaft means carrying the cam means.

What I claim is:

l. A timer comprising:

a. a housing;

b. rotatable shaft means extending through said housing, drive means coupled to said shaft means, said shaft means including first and second segments, and means coupling said segments together;

c. a plurality of cam means carried by said first segment, and

switch means responsive to said cam means;

d. a contact blade fixedly connected to said housing at one end, and having an electrical contact disposed at the opposite free end thereof;

. actuator means, means coupling one end of said actuator means to said shaft means, means coupling the opposed end of said actuator means to said contact blade between the ends of said blade;

f. electrical contact means disposed in alignment with said electrical contact of said contact blade, axial movement of said shaft means causing engagement between said electrical contacts.

2. A timer according to claim 1, wherein said means coupling said segments includes a washer connected to said second segment, said washer including web means engaging slots in said first segment.

3. A timer according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a rocker means, said rocker means pivotally mounted between its end portions.

4. A timer according to claim 3, wherein said rocker means includes gripping means disposed at opposed ends thereof,-

said gripping means slidably engaging said contact blade and a washer carried by said second segment.

5. A timer according to claim 1, wherein said segments are spring biased against each other.

6. A timer according to claim 1, wherein said segments are spring biased away from each other. 

1. A timer comprising: a. a housing; b. rotatable shaft means extending through said housing, drive means coupled to said shaft means, said shaft means including first and second segments, and means coupling said segments together; c. a plurality of cam means carried by said first segment, and switch means responsive to said cam means; d. a contact blade fixedly connected to said housing at one end, and having an electrical contact disposed at the opposite free end thereof; e. actuator means, means coupling one end of said actuator means to said shaft means, means coupling the opposed end of said actuator means to said contact blade between the ends of said blade; f. electrical contact means disposed in alignment with said electrical contact of said contact blade, axial movement of said shaft means causing engagement between said electrical contacts.
 2. A timer according to claim 1, wherein said means coupling said segments includes a washer connected to said second segment, said washer including web means engaging slots in said first segment.
 3. A timer according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a rocker means, said rocker means pivotally mounted between its end portions.
 4. A timer according to claim 3, wherein said rocker means includes gripping means disposed at opposed ends thereof, said gripping means slidably engaging said contact blade and a washer carried by said second segment.
 5. A timer according to claim 1, wherein said segments are spring biased against each other.
 6. A timer according to claim 1, wherein said segments are spring biased away from each other. 